INTERACTIVE COMPUTER GRAPHICS FOR MACHINERY SYSTEMS DESIGN

The availability of active graphic hardware components, in conjunction with modern high-speed computers, permits the development of man-machine interactive graphic computer programs that enhance the ship design process. One such interactive graphic computer program currently under development is the Computer Graphics Arrangement Program (COGAP). Through COGAP, the Navy plans to lead the ship design industry into the field of interactive computer graphics. This report describes how this new interactive man-machine relationship would be used by the Machinery Systems Division of the Naval Ship Engineering Center during ship design development. Also discussed is the subject of how COGAP can be used to significantly reduce the repetitive drudgery involved in the complex task of developing engineering arrangements. Some of the problems involved in developing a workable graphics program and its supporting design data file are also outlined. Included is a brief examination of the hardware configuration similar to that required to support an interactive graphics computer program such as COGAP. Finally, the report discusses how advancements in the field of computer graphics could be utilized in virtually every facet of naval architecture and marine engineering.